Careful of how your knees are tracking, you can your right knee edging inwards on the ascent. Not all of the reps, but something to be aware of. Bloody good form and technique though.

I've been getting into the pressing again over the last week or so as I know I've been neglecting the OH lifts a litttle. Really enjoying it and I'm sure it will help my benching too. Much on for the weekend?

Mini Forklift Ⓥ wrote:Careful of how your knees are tracking, you can your right knee edging inwards on the ascent. Not all of the reps, but something to be aware of. Bloody good form and technique though.

You're right man, I don't think it'd happen if my right foot wasn't angled out more than the left. I think it's down to ankle mobility, will work on it!

Mini Forklift Ⓥ wrote:Really enjoying it and I'm sure it will help my benching too. Much on for the weekend?

Yeah, out with mates tomorrow night. Gonna be messy. Sleep and recover hopefully the rest of it. Unless I get an offer for Saturday that is

Wasn't planning on doing deficits no belt, but they felt good and I was worried a belt was gonna fuck up my positioning. Bench was getting a bit of pain in my bicep tendon (left arm) but haven't felt anything since. Will lay off bench a couple of weeks and get some more overhead work in.

Are you still pushing the big weights around? Did we finally lose you to veganfitness.net?

BTW, I've been following your log since I joined this forum. I'm not sure why I've never posted anything to it before, but your commitment, consistency, drive, and results are impressive and inspiring. Keep at it man, all the best!

asparagus wrote:Are you still pushing the big weights around? Did we finally lose you to veganfitness.net?

BTW, I've been following your log since I joined this forum. I'm not sure why I've never posted anything to it before, but your commitment, consistency, drive, and results are impressive and inspiring. Keep at it man, all the best!

Thanks mate! I just copy and paste my log from one forum into the other, and post on both forums (not as frequently now right enough) - so will always be on both!

Jeez - it's been ages since I've updated this, and A LOT has happened;

So with 4 days notice I filled in for a team for a strongman competition;

Weather was real shitty, rained heavily for the majority of the day. Got there about 11 I think, started about 1, left about 6pm.

Tandem Log - Only a 2 man event so I sat this one out.Atlas Stones - Only manged 1 out 4 stones, the 90kg one. Was absolutey pishing it down and stones were covered in grass. Couldn't grip the 2nd stone at all.Yoke - 190kg for 40m (on a soggy uneven field)Pole Push - got fucked in both rounds. basically the opposite of a tug of war. log with rope handles on it, have to push the other team back over the line.70kg Keg Run - Shit event. I asked one referee before I started if it needed to be sat upright and he said no. During the event I got called back to sit it upright. Was raging but wouldn't have affected the final standings.

3rd out of 6 teams Not bad considering there was no weight class and we were the lightest team by far.

On this workout bar was uncomfortable on back, hurting my bicep tendon. Dull pain from shoulder down my arm. Reckon it was from stones at the comp.Mon 30th July 2012Bodyweight = 85.8kg

First time wearing belt on squats in a while, felt really unnatural and could feel it sliding aboutSquat (belt)Got 1 rep at 155kg, 2nd rep nearly died. Pushed forward out the bottom, went onto my toes and had to bolt it out the rack to escape the bar, good thing I had spotters. See video.Attempt 2 - unracked the weight, stepped back, was hurting bicep tendon too much.Attempt 3 - 3x155kg bicep tendon sore as fuck, had to call the session there and nail some ibuprofen.

Wed 1st August 2012

Cambered Bar Squat (belt)Single at 160kg, pretty comfy.

2.5" Deficit Deadlifts (no belt)1x5x150kg1x5x190kg (absolutely solid, was in a great position as well)

Back felt like shit after this session. Felt better but then bad when I woke up on Sunday, took Monday off training.

Wed 8th August 2012

Deadlift (belt)1x3x180kg1x6x200kg (new 6RM!)

Bench1x7x80kg

Snakebacked the deadlifts like a twat. My position was much better doing deficits the last 3 weeks. There's no reason why I can't do 6x200 with a straight back. As my boss said, "the last rep kinda looked like a dog doing a shit". The bar seemed so close to me after doing deficits for 3 weeks that I felt like I could just grab it and pick it up without thinking. Will sort it out for next week and sit right down into them. First time benching in ages, felt fine - just a bit weak.

Fri 10th August 2012Bodyweight = 85.8kg

So found out this day that I was once again standing in for a strongman comp on Saturday. Back had been shitty all week, but mate needed someone for his team. Done some overhead this day because I knew probability of me doing overhead events at comp were low;

Log1x6x65kg - surprised I got this cause warmups felt heavy as fuck

YokeJust one run with 220kg for 12m, picked up serious speed towards the end. Need to start nailing the pickup, more practice needed

Lovely weather, very sunny and warm. Lot of people there to watch. Got there at 10:30, started lifting around 12-1 I think. Only 3 teams showed up.

Tandem log - 2 man event, again didn't do itAtlas stones - 3 out of 4 stones, 90/100/110kg. Failed 120kg - should have got it. Seemed a bit slippier than other stones, had a bit more grass stuck to the tacky.Medley - each team member took either 190kg yoke, 65kg farmers or 70kg keg, I took farmers (was about 40m - 20m each way)Aluminium block carry - Bit of a bullshit event. It was for maximum distance, after one team member drops it, next person goes (other 2 members pick it up). Once all 3 have been your total laps/distance is measured. Was better than the fucking keg carry at the last comp though, that was a joke.Pole push - Was a battle for 2nd place and we beat the team we had to, got beat by the time that came first. Unlike the last games which was just a straight line, this time it was a circle you had to push the other team out of.

2nd out of 3 teams

Body's sore after this comp, calves/thighs/back/forearms/biceps/traps/grip.

Phew, that was a big update. In other news I'm seeing a new lady just now which is cool. She isn't vegan but has cooked me a few meals already

Your log has really inspired me since I discovered this site back in May, chewy! I became vegan 3 months ago (after being lacto-ovo for 9 years) and joined a gym and started stronglifts 6 weeks ago. If I'm not mistaken you've been pursuing strength for about 3 years now. Wondering what kind of general advice from your learning experience you would offer to someone who has just started this path.

BigRed, in no particular order- Don't give a shit about abs or bodyfat, eat enough every week so your bodyweight is going up gradually. First few years are about building a solid strength base and muscle- Don't get obsessed with hitting every bodypart and don't 'concentrate' on areas that appear smaller than others. Do compound free weight lifts and everything will balance out (Squats/Deadlift/Overhead Press/Bench Press/Barbell Rows/Pullups should be the base of any good strength program)- Look after your body. You can't lift if you're injured. http://www.mobilitywod.com/ is an unbelievable free resource, watch the videos from the earliest post. If you don't have sufficient flexibility, it will become a problem later on - count on it. If you have unlimited enthusiasm like most new lifters do, spend it on mobility work. Not wrist curls and calf raises.- Keep your main work lowish reps and heavy. Lifting heavy is the key to get strong.- Remember that building strength and muscle is a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient. Keep lifting heavy and eating enough to gain weight, take care of your muscles.

I could actually go on forever here, all based on mistakes I've made really. Hope it helps

Fri 27th August 2012Bodyweight = 86.1kg

Log1x5x60kg1x3x70kg1x1x77.5kg (PB)

Farmers walk105kg each hand for 10m115kg each hand for 10m130kg each hand for 7.8m (first time holding triple bodyweight in my hands, 573lbs for americans )

BigRed, in no particular order- Don't give a shit about abs or bodyfat, eat enough every week so your bodyweight is going up gradually. First few years are about building a solid strength base and muscle- Don't get obsessed with hitting every bodypart and don't 'concentrate' on areas that appear smaller than others. Do compound free weight lifts and everything will balance out (Squats/Deadlift/Overhead Press/Bench Press/Barbell Rows/Pullups should be the base of any good strength program)- Look after your body. You can't lift if you're injured. http://www.mobilitywod.com/ is an unbelievable free resource, watch the videos from the earliest post. If you don't have sufficient flexibility, it will become a problem later on - count on it. If you have unlimited enthusiasm like most new lifters do, spend it on mobility work. Not wrist curls and calf raises.- Keep your main work lowish reps and heavy. Lifting heavy is the key to get strong.- Remember that building strength and muscle is a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient. Keep lifting heavy and eating enough to gain weight, take care of your muscles.

I could actually go on forever here, all based on mistakes I've made really. Hope it helps

Dude, thanks for the reply! Lots of good stuff here.

-Man, the belly fat thing is tough. It's hard seeing my abs turn to flab. Especially when it seems like it grows so much faster than my skinny arms and legs! So far, since I started StrongLifts (just finished 7th week) my weight gain averages out to about +1 lb/wk. Do you think that sounds reasonable or too much too soon?-Yeah, I'm stinking with the basic StrongLifts program pretty strictly. A: squat/bench/row (I add dips) and B: squat/OHP/deadlift (I add chinups) ...I'm glad you said that though because I can see my thighs and my lats growing but my arms and calves look so skinny I question a lot whether I should be doing bicep curls or whatever because it seems disproportionately skinny.-Thanks for the link, I will definitely check it out. I certainly want to do what I can to prevent injury...had been thinking about yoga...-Low reps = 5x5 so far. Heavy - as I'm still only 7 weeks in, most of the exercises are not heavy yet, but I know they'll get there eventually. -I hear you about the marathon/sprint thing. I've had a lot of experiences in my life that have taught me patience and long term thinking, and I'm trying to apply that mindset to my strength as well.

Don't worry man, I spent the better part of my 3 years obsessing over how I look. 1lb/week sounds good as long as it's consistent. 5x5 is fine for 7 weeks in. Seeing any difference in your body after 7 weeks is a good sign - it's not a lot of time. Honestly don't worry about proportions between muscles, it'll take your focus away from getting strong.

Wed 29th August 2012Bodyweight = 85.8kg

Safety Bar Squat (no belt)1x5x105kg1x5x125kg (graft)

Deadlift1x5x127.5kg1x4x167.5kg1x1x200kg (belt on for this set, felt like shit.)1x2x220kg (pretty sure a new double PB, felt easy)

Bench1x5x70kg (felt like shit, heavy and sore joints - made right decision to call it there)

at night;Pullups1x5 +10kg1x3 +17.5kg1x4 +25kg1x15all reps from a dead hang